Company briefs

Rob Gamble has quit as chief executive of
Prime Media Group
’s regional radio and internet divisions, effective November 5. He joined Prime in August 2007 when it bought the Queensland radio stations Hot 91 and Zinc 96FM from AMI Radio, which was part-owned by the Gamble family, for $33.5 million. Neil Shoebridge

Geothermal energy company
Petratherm
said it and joint venture partners in the Paralana project, Beach Energy and TRUenergy, would investigate the cause of a blockage in its latest well 3200 metres below ground. The well, which is a key step in demonstrating the project can work, has been stalled by the blockage since August.Paul Garvey

Virgin Blue
said its online check-in and reservation system was fully operational from late yesterday after a planned shutdown that led to the cancellation of 16 flights. Yesterday’s shutdown of the Accenture-provided system was performed to test why a failure last week took almost a full day to rectify. No further flight cancellations due to system testing are planned today, a company spokeswoman said. Andrew Cleary

The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board has agreed to buy a further 10 per cent of Canada’s 407 ETR toll road, adding to the 30 per cent stake of the asset it will acquire as part of its $3.4 billion takeover of Australian infrastructure owner Intoll. Andrew Cleary

Macarthur Coal
and Anglo Coal have reportedly settled PCI coal prices for the December quarter at $US150 a tonne – a $US3 a tonne premium to an earlier settlement by Wesfarmers and Jellinbah – according to metals trade publication Platts. Jamie Freed

Shares in fertiliser producer
Incitec
Pivot yesterday rallied 6 per cent to $3.70, their highest in almost a year, after the world’s largest producer of phosphate fertilisers, Mosaic Co, warned China may restrict exports. A ban would boost demand for Incitec’s phosphate fertiliser and increase global prices. Julie-anne Sprague

Brisbane-based
Tissue Therapies
said the US Patent and Trademark Office has granted a third patent for its ulcer treatment VitroGro. It said a total of three VitroGro patents have now been granted in the US, and one or more VitroGro patents have also been granted in Japan, South Korea, India, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Its shares rallied more than 10 per cent to 26¢. Khia Mercer

Forestry group
Gunns
is reviewing its West Australian jarrah sawmilling, processing and retail operations, which may see it exit the state’s hardware industry. Gunns said its business had suffered since 2004, when the state government restructured the timber industry. Julie-anne Sprague